12 Essential Items Every Dad Needs to Pack in His Hospital Bag
So you’re nearing the day of your delivery and you have made all the necessary preparations for yourself and baby. You’ve marked your final OB appointments and you have packed your hospital bag as well as baby’s. But wait. Aren’t you forgetting something?
What about your husband?
Did you remember to pack your husband’s hospital bag? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s your job to pack your husband’s hospital bag, especially since you’ve got a million and one things going on, but if you do want to pack his hospital bag, do you know what items you should put in there?
Well don’t worry about it, because I will let you know in this post what the essentials are to pack in the hospital bag for dad.
Phone
I mean, I don’t know anyone who is likely to forget their phones nowadays. Sometimes, it’s the very first thing that anyone checks when they get to their destination, or even before they leave their homes. But in case you need a reminder, please do not forget to bring your phone to the hospital! It’s essential for so many reasons, such as calling a loved one in case anything happens, taking pictures and videos of your newborn, and also sharing said videos and pictures via social media or messenger to family and friends!
Phone Charger
Ok this one needs a little more emphasis than the phone, because even though most people do not need a reminder to bring their phones to the hospital, some people do forget to bring a phone charger! Which absolutely sucks, especially because what use is there having a phone with you if you can’t even use it?
With that said, please also make sure your phone is fully charged, especially if your wife is now in full on labour, because you’d want to catch the baby coming out on camera!
Toiletries Kit
This one is also essential. Even in the best possible scenarios, hospitals tend to keep mom and baby in the hospital for observation for a minimum of 24 hours, so guess what? You will be sleeping in the hospital. So don’t forget to bring your toiletries kit with you so you can be comfortable (and have fresh breath!) when you meet your newborn!
Here are things you should include in your toiletries kit:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Face and body wash
- Shampoo
- Face wipes (or baby wipes)
- Deodorant
- Face & Body Moisturizer
- Contact lens, case and solution (if you wear them)
Headphones/Earphones
If labour has stalled or you’re just in the waiting period, and you want to watch your favourite show on Netflix, having earphones would be so beneficial. This is because you don’t want to be filling the room with the sound of your favourite TV series, especially if your wife is going through contractions!
Snacks/Food
In order to make your hospital stay the most comfortable as possible, you should pack snacks or food for you in case labour stalls and you have to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time. Pack a mixture of healthy and unhealthy snacks, such as fruits, protein bars, but also allow yourself the occasional chocolate bar! I mean, labour is stressful, and if a chocolate bar is what it takes to calm your nerves, then so be it!
Favourite book/movie/TV show
In case you have to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time, you should have some form of entertainment for you while you wait. I mean, you can’t exactly go for a ride, or even go for a walk in the hospital halls while your wife is waiting to deliver her baby! So get your favourite book, movie or tv show ready for you to be entertained while you wait. Another tip? If you’re a youtube type of guy, create a playlist of all the videos you want to watch, and you can watch them while you wait! Just make sure you don’t use up all of your phone’s battery!
Blanket
I hate to break it to you, but you’re not the star of the show here. And while the hospital will provide a blanket for your wife, and they might provide one to you, there’s no guarantee that you will get that hospital blanket! My suggestion? Pack your own blanket, so you know for sure you won’t be freezing to death at midnight when you try to sleep as you’re waiting to meet your newborn.
Extra Pillow
This goes along with my point above. They may or may not provide you with a pillow (you’re not the patient, afterall). So to be safe, just pack your own pillow to use at the hospital!
Water Bottle
Who knows how long you will be at the hospital for? This goes along with packing food or snacks to the hospital. You should bring yourself a nice big jug of water, just in case you get thirsty from waiting.
Change of Clothes
Again, because we don’t know how long you’re going to be staying at the hospital, make sure you pack yourself a few change of clothes, and make sure they’re comfortable! Forget about the jeans and button on shirt: pack a comfortable shirt, and maybe pajama pants for your stay!
Slippers & Socks
Hospitals can get very cold! If your hospital stay is long then you’ll appreciate something that keeps your feet warm and makes them feel more like home. Not to mention, I find it so hard to sleep at night if my feet are cold, so having socks and slippers on hand will help you get a good night’s sleep at the hospital.
Wallet (Cash & Personal Identification)
Don’t forget this! This might be the most important item on this list! Don’t forget your personal ID and also credit cards or cash in case you need to pay for something while you’re at the hospital.
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